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Microbial Pathogenesis Mar 2024Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis caused by Paracoccidioides spp. The interaction mediated by the presence of adhesins on the fungal surface and...
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis caused by Paracoccidioides spp. The interaction mediated by the presence of adhesins on the fungal surface and receptors in the extracellular matrix of the host, as well as the biofilm formation, is essential in its pathogenesis. Adhesins such as gp43, enolase, GAPDH (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase), and 14-3-3 have been demonstrated in the Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb18) strain and recognized as necessary in the fungus-host interaction. The Pb 18 strain silenced to 14-3-3 showed changes in morphology, virulence, and adhesion capacity. The study aimed to evaluate the role of adhesin 14-3-3 in P. brasiliensis biofilm formation and the differential expression of genes related to adhesins, comparing planktonic and biofilm forms. The presence of biofilm was also verified in sutures in vitro and in vivo. The silenced strain (Pb14-3-3 aRNA) was compared with the wild type Pb18, determining the differential metabolic activity between the strains by the XTT reduction assay; the biomass by violet crystal and the polysaccharides by safranin, even as morphological differences by microscopic techniques. Differential gene expression for adhesins was also analyzed, comparing the relative expression of these in planktonic and biofilm forms at different times. The results suggested that the silencing of 14-3-3 protein altered the ability to form biofilm and its metabolism. The quantity of biomass was similar in both strains; however, the formation of exopolymeric substances and polysaccharide material was lower in the silenced strain. Our results showed increased expression of enolase, GAPDH, and 14-3-3 genes in the first periods of biofilm formation in the Pb18 strain. In contrast, the silenced strain showed a lower expression of these genes, indicating that gene silencing can influence the expression of other genes and be involved in the biofilm formation of P. brasiliensis. In vitro and in vivo assays using sutures confirmed this yeast's ability to form biofilm and may be implicated in the pathogenesis of paracoccidioidomycosis.
Topics: Paracoccidioidomycosis; Paracoccidioides; 14-3-3 Proteins; Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases; Biofilms; Adhesins, Bacterial; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase
PubMed: 38211834
DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2024.106537 -
JAAD Case Reports Sep 2023
PubMed: 37588801
DOI: 10.1016/j.jdcr.2023.06.039 -
Brazilian Journal of Microbiology :... Sep 2023
PubMed: 37460870
DOI: 10.1007/s42770-023-01043-w -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2024Blood count is crucial for assessing bone marrow's cell production and differentiation during infections, gaging disease severity, and monitoring therapeutic responses....
Blood count is crucial for assessing bone marrow's cell production and differentiation during infections, gaging disease severity, and monitoring therapeutic responses. The profile of blood count in chronic forms of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) has been insufficiently explored. To better understand the changes in hematological cells in different stages of the PCM chronic form, we evaluated the blood count, including immature blood cells in automated equipment, before and during the treatment follow-up of 62 chronic PCM patients. Predominantly male (96.8%) with an average age of 54.3 (standard deviation SD 6.9) years, participants exhibited pre-treatment conditions such as anemia (45.2%), monocytosis (38.7%), and leukocytosis (17.7%), which became less frequent after clinical cure. Anemia was more prevalent in severe cases. Notably, hemoglobin and reticulocyte hemoglobin content increased, while leukocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, immature granulocytes, and platelets decreased. Chronic PCM induced manageable hematological abnormalities, mainly in the red blood series. Monocytosis, indicating monocytes' role in PCM's immune response, was frequent. Post-treatment, especially after achieving clinical cure, significant improvements were observed in various hematological indices, including immature granulocytes and reticulocyte hemoglobin content, underscoring the impact of infection on these parameters.
PubMed: 38786672
DOI: 10.3390/jof10050317 -
Medical Mycology Case Reports Dec 2023Paracoccidioidomycosis is a systemic mycosis caused by the fungus Paracoccidioides sp. The genital cutaneous manifestation is rare, with few reports in the literature....
Paracoccidioidomycosis is a systemic mycosis caused by the fungus Paracoccidioides sp. The genital cutaneous manifestation is rare, with few reports in the literature. We report a case of a male farmer, who presented with a genital cutaneous ulcer for 2 years, without respiratory symptoms. Clinical and histological findings showed paracoccidioidomycosis. This pathology must be considered as an etiology of an ulcerated lesion in the genital tract, even in the absence of respiratory or systemic manifestations.
PubMed: 37693215
DOI: 10.1016/j.mmcr.2023.100605 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2023spp. is the etiologic agent of Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), a systemic disease with wide distribution in Latin America. Macrophages are very important cells during the...
spp. is the etiologic agent of Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), a systemic disease with wide distribution in Latin America. Macrophages are very important cells during the response to infection by . In this study, we performed a proteomic analysis to evaluate the consequences of yeast cells on the human THP-1 macrophage proteome. We have identified 443 and 2247 upregulated or downregulated proteins, respectively, in macrophages co-cultured with yeast cells of in comparison to control macrophages unexposed to the fungus. Proteomic analysis revealed that interaction with caused metabolic changes in macrophages that drastically affected energy production pathways. In addition, these macrophages presented regulated many factors related to epigenetic modifications and gene transcription as well as a decrease of many proteins associated to the immune system activity. This is the first human macrophage proteome derived from interactions with , which contributes to elucidating the changes that occur during the host response to this fungus. Furthermore, it highlights proteins that may be targets for the development of new therapeutic approaches to PCM.
Topics: Humans; Paracoccidioides; Proteome; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Proteomics; Macrophages
PubMed: 38045758
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1275954 -
Brazilian Journal of Microbiology :... Mar 2024Paracoccidioidomycosis is an infection with the potential for environmental dissemination, especially in regions of hot and humid climate, where human cases have been...
Paracoccidioidomycosis is an infection with the potential for environmental dissemination, especially in regions of hot and humid climate, where human cases have been recorded in the Southwestern Amazon of Brazil, specifically in the state of Acre. Despite studies providing information about the presence of these fungi in soil and animal samples, such as armadillos, further investigations are still needed to determine the epidemiological distribution of the genus Paracoccidioides. The aim of this study was to detect the occurrence of Paracoccidioides fungi in the Southwestern Amazon. To achieve this, 60 soil samples were collected from armadillo burrows on rural properties in the in the municipalities of Acrelândia, Bujari, Plácido de Castro, Rio Branco, Sena Madureira, and Senador Guiomard, located in the state of Acre, Brazil. Fungal DNA was extracted from these samples using the DNEASY® PowerSoil kit-Quiagen, followed by Nested PCR technique with ITS4 and ITS5 as external primers, and PBITS-E and PBITS-R as internal primers. DNA amplification products of about 380 bp compatible with Paracoccidioides spp. were detected in six samples (10%), being sequenced and identified as P. brasiliensis. These findings indicate that the soils of the Acre state could be considered a potential source for Paracoccidioides spp., suggesting that local infections are likely.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Paracoccidioides; Soil Microbiology; Fungi; Soil; Paracoccidioidomycosis; Brazil
PubMed: 38238556
DOI: 10.1007/s42770-024-01256-7 -
Biochimie Mar 2024The pathogen Paracoccidioides lutzii (Pb01) is found in South America countries Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela and Brazil, especially in the central, west, and north...
The pathogen Paracoccidioides lutzii (Pb01) is found in South America countries Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela and Brazil, especially in the central, west, and north regions of the latter. It belongs to the Ajellomycetaceae family, Onygenales order, and is typically thermodimorphic, presenting yeast cells when it grows in animal tissues, but mycelia when in the environment, where it produces the infectious propagule. This fungus is one of the etiologic agents of Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), the most important endemic fungal infection in Latin America. Investigations on its genome have contributed to a better understanding about its metabolism and revealed the complexity of several metabolic glycolytic pathways. Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase from Paracoccidioides lutzii (PlGAPDH) is considered a moonlighting protein and participates in several biological processes of this pathogen. The enzyme was expressed and purified, as seen in SDS-PAGE gel, crystallized and had its three dimensional structure (3D) determined in complex with NAD, a sulphate ion and d-galactonic acid, therefore, a type of 'GAA site'. It is the first GAPDH structure to show this chemical type in this site and how this protein can bind an acid derived from oxidation of a linear hexose.
Topics: Animals; Paracoccidioides; Paracoccidioidomycosis; Brazil; Sugars
PubMed: 37709188
DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2023.09.013 -
Veterinary Research Communications May 2024Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis endemic in Latin American countries and one of the most important fungal diseases regarding incidence and mortality in...
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis endemic in Latin American countries and one of the most important fungal diseases regarding incidence and mortality in humans. PCM has also been described in some animal species such as dogs. In this study we describe a new case of PCM disease in a dog that differed from previous records in the literature which includes a progressive evolution of fungal dermatitis causing a deforming lesion in the nose, like those found in human patients, and humoral response against gp70 instead of gp43, the major diagnostic antigen for human PCM. The clinical isolate through the ITS and partial gp43 gene phylogenetic analysis was grouped in the Paracoccidioides brasiliensis complex. This case describes several features which may contribute to improving diagnosis and understanding of canine paracoccidioidomycosis.
PubMed: 38758425
DOI: 10.1007/s11259-024-10413-0 -
Microorganisms Feb 2024This study standardized a semi-quantitative dot blotting assay (DB) and a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to detect specific antibodies for and...
INTRODUCTION
This study standardized a semi-quantitative dot blotting assay (DB) and a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to detect specific antibodies for and its DNA in PCM patients.
METHODOLOGY
We evaluated 42 confirmed PCM patients upon admission using a serological double agar gel immunodiffusion test (DID), DB, and molecular tests (qPCR in total blood). The control groups included 42 healthy individuals and 37 patients with other infectious diseases. The serological progress during treatment was evaluated in eight patients, and there was a relapse diagnosis in ten patients using the Pb B.339 strain antigen. The cut-off points for the serological tests were determined by a receiver operator characteristic curve.
RESULTS
The DB and DID tests showed similar accuracy, but the DB identified lower antibody concentrations. Cross-reactions were absent in the DB assay. In the relapse diagnoses, DB exhibited much higher sensitivity (90%) than DID (30%).
CONCLUSIONS
A DB assay is easier and faster than a DID test to be performed; DB and DID tests show the same accuracy, while blood qPCR is not recommended in the diagnosis at the time of admission; cross-reactions were not observed with other systemic diseases; DB and DID tests are useful for treatment monitoring PCM patients; and a DB assay is the choice for diagnosing relapse. These findings support the introduction of semi-quantitative DB assays in clinical laboratories.
PubMed: 38399756
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12020351